Meat+Poultry - July 2020 - 14

WA S H I N G T O N

Recognizing hardships
In a letter to Agriculture Secretary
Sonny Perdue sent on June 9,
Representatives Jim Jordan (R-Ohio)
and Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) asked the
agency to lessen regulations on small
meat processors.
"The high cost of complying with
meat processing laws has made it hard
for smaller processors to compete and
has led to significant consolidation in
the industry," the letter said. "Processors
undergo either federal or state
inspection for compliance with relevant
standards. Generally, only meat from
federally inspected processors can be
sold across state line."
The letter laid out several areas
for the US Department of Agriculture
(USDA) to reexamine.
First, Congress members
said Hazard Analysis and Critical
Control Point (HACCP) plans
should give smaller meat processors
more flexibility to comply with
regulations, including during rapid
production changes.
Next, they encouraged the USDA
to find a more streamlined method of
meat label submissions and approval. 
Jordan and Armstrong also said they
wanted an expansion of the USDA's
Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS)
Program to allow state inspectors to
approve meat to be sold outside the

state in which it is processed. The
letter said only seven states currently
participate in the CIS program.
Finally, the letter asked the USDA's
Food Safety and Inspection Service
(FSIS) to find a way to allow for more
flexibility and decrease expenses for
small processing operations requiring
overtime inspection.

The well-documented shift in
demand from foodservice to retail and
the ripple effects that have caused
labor shortages, lower production
volumes and supply chain interruptions
have put significant financial strain
on all livestock producers and
chicken farmers are no exception, the
groups said.
"As these farmers cope with
raising
fewer chickens among
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
changing
and uncertain demand,
Earlier in June, in a separate letter
we
believe
it is essential that they
to two leaders of a US Senate group
be
provided
with direct financial
representing chicken producers,
assistance,
just as other farmers and
a consortium of 13 poultry-related
livestock
producers have
organizations requested "direct
been
supported
during
financial assistance" to offset
the
pandemic,"
the
hardships related to the
The chicken
supply
chain
is
letter
read.
coronavirus (COVID-19).
suffering from the
Farmers, livestock
The group's letter, sent
unexpected effects
producers and food
to Senators Chris Coons
of the COVID-19
processors are among
(D-Del.) and Roger Wicker
outbreak.
the country's essential
(R-Miss.), expressed
and critically important
appreciation from the
workers, the group said,
country's chicken farmers for
and they warrant the support of the
the leadership provided by the cogovernment during this historically
chairs of the Senate Chicken Caucus
challenging time.
and acknowledged the resilience and
"While the value of the work
commitment of the producer sector to
by our public health professionals,
feed Americans.
first responders and public safety
"However, despite current efforts,
employees is unquestioned, we
the chicken supply chain is suffering
are grateful for your leadership in
greatly from the unexpected and
supporting our farmers who wake up
devastating effects of the COVID-19
every day to protect our food security,"
outbreak that has seriously impacted
the group's letter concluded.
livelihoods and food consumption
patterns," the letter said.
RYA N M CC A RT H Y | r m c c a r t hy @s o s l a n d.c o m

14

MEAT+ POULTRY | 07.20 | www.meatpoultry.com

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"We are grateful for your leadership in
supporting our farmers who wake up every
day to protect our food security."
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Meat+Poultry - July 2020

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